In the post-Brexit era, Britain is looking forward to widen its global scope with Indo-British collaborations in diverse sectors, which are expected to receive a fresh boost, British Deputy High Commissioner Bruce Bucknell said here today.
"Brexit is a change and challenge for us, but we are confident about the fundamental strengths of UK's economy and optimistic about the role we will forge, building on our strength as a great trading nation," he said at an interactive session with members of the Confederation of India and UK as partners in Technology and Innovation.
Britain is open for business, committed to peace and security and looking forward to economic and diplomatic opportunities in the wider world, Bucknell said.
"Brexit means we are leaving the European Union, but not leaving Europe as it is geographically impossible. We want the strongest possible economic links with our European neighbours as well as friends in North America and the Commonwealth and other important world partners," he said.
Bucknell claimed Britain had always been an outward looking nation thriving and prospering on the world stage and is ranked in the top six countries in the world to do business with record employment.
"For India, I think it is an opportunity and the forthcoming three-day Technology Summit in New Delhi from November 7 with Britain as partner nation, is a step in the direction of stronger Indo-British collaboration," he said.
The summit to be inaugurated by British Prime Minister
Theresa May and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, is expected to get a lot of attention in the British and international arena, the Deputy High Commissioner said.
"The summit gives the collaboration between UK and India a spotlight that it has not had in recent years and this will be an opportunity to talk about a host of wider collaborations," Bucknell said.
The summit's key aim is to provide a platform to industries, institutions and government agencies from India and the partner country, and to forge knowledge-business partnerships for manufacturing, trade and investments.
"The focus of UK companies will be on tech-rich opportunities in specific sectors where we can offer the most to India. These are Smart Cities, Advanced Engineering, Digital, Healthcare/Life Sciences sectors and designs," the Deputy High Commissioner pointed out.
The summit comprises five inter-related summits with the technology summit occupying the centre stage with others on innovation and entrepreneurship, higher education, design and intellectual property.
There is also an extended session focused exclusively on agro-tech, with a range of speakers from UK on the second day. The summit will also be marked by G2G events -including a Joint Economic and Trade Committee, a meeting of the Indian British CEO Forum and the Bilateral Forum.
Bucknell added that Britain was the largest G20 investor in India and according to the KPMG/UK-India Business Council Report 2015, 523 British companies have some form of permanent presence in the country.
